EU 'deeply concerned' by death of Kyrgyz journalist

(BRUSSELS) - Sweden, holders of the EU rotating presidency, voiced deep concern Wednesday at the death of Kyrygyz opposition journalist who fell from a window in Almaty, his hands and feet bound.

They also called on the Kazakh authorities to swiftly investigate the case.

The EU presidency "expresses its deep concern over the circumstances concerning the death of Kyrgyz journalist Gennady Pavlyuk, who died in hospital in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 22 December," a statement said.

The EU presidency called on the Kazakh authorities "to swiftly and thoroughly investigate the death" and bring those responsible to justice.

It also called on the Kyrgyz authorities to assist in the investigation.

Pavlyuk died Tuesday after apparently having been thrown, tied up, from the sixth-floor window of an apartment in Almaty.

A Kazakh interior ministry spokesman said Pavlyuk had died in hospital on December 16 without having regained consciousness.

Pavlyuk was a leading critic of Kyrgyzstan's President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and the officials in both countries said a criminal investigation had been opened into his death.

"There is a version that it is an attempted murder," a Kyrgyz spokesman told AFP.